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I really like all the features of the eStore, but I was unable to find any mention of anti-piracy protection. Specifically, I would like to be sure that if a user buys my digital product (let’s say it’s a eBook), then does eStore offer anything to prevent this user from giving it to his friend to read (for free)? I know the friend can’t download it using the same link, but that doesn’t stop the user from uploading it elsewhere or emailing to around to others.
If not, do you know of any good (and inexpensive) products that help to avoid this?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Nope. I don’t know if this is possible for eBook. If it was a software then you could introduce a serial key activation option which would lock it down to one user.
One way to discourage sharing of eBooks is to stamp the PDF file with the customers information (name, email address etc) in the footer. I haven’t seen any WordPress plugin that does this though… I am working on a solution for this but it won’t be ready for a few more weeks.
I’m very interested in this feature. We looked at commercial solutions that were thousands of dollars yearly.
I have used an app called drawloop to formfill pdf files via salesforce. it’s hosted, but very effective.
Can anyone offer recommendations for preventing a paying customer from passing a software download on the others?
The best way to completely secure a software is to have online verification. This ensures that a copy of the software will only be used by the person who purchased it.
How about the delivery of a digital key based on customer’s Mac address or IP?
Customer downloads the trial, after a month he’s prompted to purchase whereby a unique key is generated, based on Mac code which unlocks the software and restrict it to that machine.
Hey Frank, Good to hear from you! what do you think I am using for my PDF Stamper to limit who can use the plugin?
WP PDF Stamper Plugin – Stamp Your eBooks with Customer Details to Discourage File Sharing
I have developed something that you can use to make your web application only work after a successful online serial key verification but it’s not ready for release yet (I have a few things that I am working on and it’s taking all my time).
@gobbledegeek, yep something like that will definitely work for desktop applications. If you have a script with the algorithm that generates the number then I can investigate how it can be hooked with eStore so after the payment it uses the script to generate the key and send it to the customer.
Do you mean like this?
<%
Function gen_key(digits)
‘Create and define array
dim char_array(50)
char_array(0) = “0”
char_array(1) = “1”
char_array(2) = “2”
char_array(3) = “3”
char_array(4) = “4”
char_array(5) = “5”
char_array(6) = “6”
char_array(7) = “7”
char_array(
= “8”char_array(9) = “9”
char_array(10) = “A”
char_array(11) = “B”
char_array(12) = “C”
char_array(13) = “D”
char_array(14) = “E”
char_array(15) = “F”
char_array(16) = “G”
char_array(17) = “H”
char_array(18) = “I”
char_array(19) = “J”
char_array(20) = “K”
char_array(21) = “L”
char_array(22) = “M”
char_array(23) = “N”
char_array(24) = “O”
char_array(25) = “P”
char_array(26) = “Q”
char_array(27) = “R”
char_array(28) = “S”
char_array(29) = “T”
char_array(30) = “U”
char_array(31) = “V”
char_array(32) = “W”
char_array(33) = “X”
char_array(34) = “Y”
char_array(35) = “Z”
‘Initiate randomize method for default seeding
randomize
‘Loop through and create the output based on the the variable passed to
‘the function for the length of the key.
do while len(output) < digits
num = char_array(Int((35 – 0 + 1) * Rnd + 0))
output = output + num
loop
‘Set return
gen_key = output
End Function
‘Write the results to the browser, currently setting a 13 digit key
response.write “
" & gen_key(13) & "
” & vbcrlf
%>
Yeah something like that. It just needs to be a PHP script that has a function that eStore can call. This function generates the key and returns it to eStore so it can be added to the email that gets sent out.
A simple example would be something like the following:
<?php
function generate_serial_key()
{
//your serial key generation algorithm goes here
$key = "SomeGeneratedKey';
return $key;
}
?>Hmmm….given that I simply knock up designs for the developer to code, I’m as lost as a blind sock stranded on the dark side of the moon, with only small chalk arrows to guide me.
Is there an ‘Idiot’s Guide’ to the whole process from the moment the software prompts the user to purchase a key? If not, if you are inclined and have a minute, would you possibly run through the process in laymen’s terms for me? I would really appreciate it.
You don’t need to look at the whole picture of how the whole process will work. You just need to tell me what your key generation algorithm will be so it can be scripted. I will then be able to tell you how you can hook it with eStore.
So here is my first question. Do you have an algorithm to generate the serial keys? Remember, only you know how you want to generate your random serial key as your software will need to accept this key so if I just randomly generate something it won’t be acceptable.
This is how software keys work for desktop applications in general. You as the software developer make up the algorithm to generate serial keys. You give your software the knowledge of this algorithm so when the key entered matches with the pattern that the software is expecting it will accept this key and unlock the features. Once you have this architecture in place you can create your serial key generator that will create serial keys in a way that your software will accept it. To me it looks like you don’t have the first piece of the puzzle in place.
Do a bit of reading up on Google… I am sure there are plenty of articles that explains this whole thing in detail.
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